What Female Founders Say on International Women's Day
This International Women’s Day, Phoenix Style is celebrating inspiring female-led businesses by highlighting their success and sharing the advice that helped them achieve their ambitions. From content creators to founders and stylists, these women have each carved their own path in business and continue to inspire others.
Phoenix style is where luxury meets sustainability, and it has been that way for nearly 50 years. Originally one of Surrey’s first designer resale boutiques, we have grown into a trusted business in the preloved designer industry with stores in Cobham and Wimbledon Village, alongside a thriving online store that ships preloved globally to our customers.
Where Phoenix Style's Female Founder started
Founder Paige Mengers understands what it means to be a successful and independent businesswoman. Beginning her career in fashion PR over 25 years ago, Paige has gone on to set up her own company, Bright Light PR, where she continues to work as Founder alongside her hands-on role as Founder at Phoenix Style.
Each of the following women has carved their own path to success, and we hope that their words and journeys can not only inspire a new generation of talent but also uplift an existing Phoenix Style community of strong, independent women across Surrey and London.
Georgia Zaris, Content creator
Georgia Goes Grey’s favourite two words are ‘love and kindness’; with these in mind, she has built her career as a creator, amassing a community of 233 thousand followers, inspiring them with ‘age positivity’ and ‘exploring the grey areas of life…’.
We asked, “What’s one piece of advice that always stayed with you and helped you get to where you are today?”
Georgia answered…
“When you realise that no one is coming to save you, you learn to save yourself”
… which she says made her ‘stronger, more loving and able to help others, by helping herself first’.
Advice from Female Founder Grace Fodor of Studio 10
Grace is the founder of Studio 10, a make-up brand changing the narrative from a one-rule-fits-all approach, setting out to redefine beauty products for mature skin in an age where 53% of GenX feel ignored by the beauty industry. More than a brand, it’s a purpose-led PRO AGE movement, reshaping the conversation around beauty and age. It challenges outdated stereotypes and champions true age inclusivity. Grace’s products have been featured in magazines and newspapers such as Good Housekeeping and The Telegraph.
We asked, “What’s one piece of advice that always stayed with you and helped you get to where you are today?”
Grace answered…
“You don’t need a lot of confidence, but what you do need is grit”
… Grace says it’s this grit that has kept her going on ‘those days that just feel impossible’.
Follow Grace on Instagram for all things beauty.
Karen Williams, Female Stylist and Influencer
Karen Williams is a UK-based stylist, content creator, and founder of the empowering lifestyle movement Find Your Fabulous. Known for her polished yet wearable style, she inspires women, especially beyond 40 and 50, to dress with confidence and embrace self-worth. Through fashion, beauty, home, and wellness content, Karen champions the belief that fabulous has no size or age limit - it’s a mindset.
We asked, “What’s one piece of advice that always stayed with you and helped you get to where you are today?”
Karen answered…
“Always back yourself, and don’t entertain irrelevant opinions from irrelevant people”
… she says this came from respected Make Up Artist, Sarah Chapman, ‘what more could you want!’
Lucy & Sara from female-led business, Organise-d
Lucy, one of the Managing Directors, studied Business Management at university before working in TV. She joined Organise-d over two years ago, where she brings exceptional attention to detail to every project. Sara studied textiles before building a 12-year career in fashion, working in a textiles studio, supplying major fashion brands. She has a passion for interiors and home organisation and is the business queen of visual merchandising.
Both mums of two, Lucy and Sara, have just taken the reins from founders Gemma and Hayley to helm one of the UK’s leading home organisation and space planning businesses. Organise-d work with a range of celebrity clients such as former JLS member Ashton Merrygold and his dancer & choreographer wife, Sarah Louise Merrygold.
We asked, “What’s one piece of advice that always stayed with you and helped you get to where you are today?”
Lucy answered…
“Don’t believe every thought that you think”
… she says after becoming a Director of Organise-d ‘the self-doubt and impostor syndrome is never far away, so this advice is key now. Failing that, she tries to ‘channel her 5-year-old’s girl-boss energy’.
Sara answered…
“Create spaces that support the life you want”
… she says she now helps clients to ‘create calm and clarity in their homes’, which often ‘spills out into their everyday lives’.
Follow Organise-d on Instagram
The journeys of these inspiring female founders show that every path to success is different, but the values that unite them remain the same: resilience, kindness and determination. This International Women’s Day, Phoenix Style is proud to celebrate female entrepreneurs and support a community of strong, independent women who continue to shape the local business landscape in Surrey, London and globally.
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